Ahead of this season, the biggest question surrounding the Edmonton Oilers was the quality of their right wings. Judging by the pre-season Ty Rattie, Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer Yamamoto have had, right-wing might just be the team’s strength.
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Ty Rattie Hattie, Puljujarvi adds two
Last night, Ty Rattie and Jesse Puljujarvi teamed up for five goals in Edmonton’s 6-0 pre-season win against Vancouver. Everyone was impressed, including goalie Cam Talbot. When asked if right-wing perhaps wasn’t the black hole everyone thought it would be, he said:
“If they keep playing like that there is,”
“Rats [Ty Rattie] is a smart hockey player, very cerebral, and I think he fits very well with Nuge [Ryan Nugent-Hopkins] and Connor [McDavid].
“And Jesse has just been on another level this year. His speed is second to none.”
Ty Rattie is the wildcard here. He scored a hat-trick and has scored goals at every level, except the NHL. Joining forces with two centers by trade in Nugent-Hopkins and McDavid might just be what the doctor ordered to open up the 25-year-old’s true potential. Rattie seems to have realized this is chance of a lifetime and is ready to pounce on the opportunity.
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“They can both beat guys by themselves, so get open, find space, and when you get your chances you better be burying them.”
Rattie and Puljujarvi owe their early pre-season success to the excellent off-season. Both worked hard and reported in top shape. Puljujarvi showed up to training camp 5 kilograms leaner and with renewed self-confidence.
“You work hard, and some good things will happen. I had a good summer. That helped me,”
“I think that all things come from there. If you have good confidence, good things happen.”
Edmonton Oilers fans can afford to dream
Lost in translation are Yamamoto’s seven points in four games. He, Rattie and Puljujarvi have combined for 15 goals in just five pre-season games, signaling a much better season for Edmonton this time around. The Oilers went into last season on the wings of their first playoff appearance in 11 years. Everyone thought the only way to go for this ultra-talented squad was up, but it wasn’t to be, as McDavid and Co. lost more games than they won and missed the playoffs by a wide margin.
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Pre-season hockey is better at projecting who can’t play rather than who can, but with Rattie’s, Puljujarvi’s and Yamamoto’s performances thus far, Oilers fans can afford to dream. At the very least, the right wing doesn’t appear to be the weakness everyone feared it would be.
